Report
Patrick Artus

Can we explain the about-turn in US monetary policy in late 2018?

In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Federal Reserve abruptly changed the intended course of its future monetary policy: instead of signalling a normalisation of its interest rates, raising them towards 3.25% to 3.50%, it switched to a policy of interest rate cuts, with an interest rate target of around 1.5% to 1.75%. The financial markets reacted drastically to this change of strategy by the Federal Reserve. Can we explain this drastic about-turn in US monetary policy? It may have been brought about by: A change in the cyclical outlook for the United States; The fact that mortgage interest rates were high in 2018, which led to a downturn in residential construction (building permits and housing starts); The risk of a downturn in share prices, given the extent of the equity wealth effect in the United States .
Provider
Natixis
Natixis

Based across the world’s leading financial centers, Natixis CIB Research offers an integrated view of the markets. The team provides support to inform Natixis clients’ investment and hedging decisions across all asset classes.

 

Analysts
Patrick Artus

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